Brendan Sorsby transferring is a huge blow.
Of the 22 players in the portal from Indiana, none hurt more than quarterback Brendan Sorsby. His departure hurt for two reasons. First, it's never easy to lose your starting quarterback. Second, Sorsby has three years of eligibility left. That's a windfall for Cincinnati because recent history shows that transfer quarterbacks who play more than one season do better than one-and-done QBs.
In addition to losing Sorsby, the Hoosiers lost three-fifths of its starting offensive line. Right guard Matthew Bedford committed to Oregon. Ducks head coach Dan Lanning flipped Bedford to Eugene from Colorado. Coach Prime did sign right tackle Khalil Benson, who has over 1,400 snaps under his belt. Benson can play either guard or tackle for the Buffalos. Finally, center Zach Carpenter transferred to Miami.
The Hoosiers also lost some key defenders. EDGE rusher Anthony Jones returns to the West Coast, signing with Oregon State. Mississippi signed safety Louis Moore, who tied for the team lead in interceptions. Tulsa received a committment from EDGE rusher Myles Jackson.